Future Optimist

On this show, I’ve given you boatloads of examples of people who turned their unique passion into a career. Today we tap into the wide world of birding with my guest, Scott Whittle. Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com Scott has turned his passion for birds into a start-up with far-reaching implications for conservation and human wellbeing. His company, Terra, allows you to listen to the birds outside your home and identify them, including migratory patterns and more. Through his device, you can enjoy the sounds of nature in your own home or learn a ton more about the world all around you. If I’m underselling this just wait until you find out the full scope of his idea.

Andres Avello grew up in Florida, where the water was a big part of everyday life. Discover how his life took a series of unexpected twists and turns, leading to him leaving a great and stable career to build a business. Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com Andres knew he was meant to build a company, and he knew he was meant to do something with the water. Now he’s built a company called PADL that offers first-of-its-kind paddle board and kayak rentals all over Florida and soon the world. Just subscribe, and unlock the board at any location, take it out, return it, and lock it back up. It’s a novel twist on the model you might have seen for scooters around your city.

Skye Blackburn has made an enormous impact in her native Australia with a truly innovative idea: edible insects: Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com She combined a lifelong passion for insects with a degree in food science to create a groundbreaking edible insect company. Today, she’s educated over a million people about the future of food and the importance of adding new sources like insects to our diets. Her products are already in grocery stores and her insect farms are a marvel of AI, solar power, and general awesomeness. She’s proof that the thing that makes you strange might just be your greatest asset.

Kyle Rand is the co-founder and CEO of Rendever. He grew up volunteering at a senior living community and later went on to study cognitive decline in the aging population at Duke University. He was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and his company was just listed on Time’s list of 100 most influential companies in 2022, outstanding achievements both. Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com When you meet him, you’ll understand why. His company has raised millions in funding pursuing a truly noble cause, empowering the elderly to form communities through virtual reality. In case you didn’t know, loneliness and isolation are two of the biggest problems facing us as we age, and he’s found a life and career of meaning solving that challenge.

Google's new chat bot LaMDA might have just crossed a threshold—the most major in our lifetimes. Whether AI is currently conscious isn't the question we should be asking. Read the full transcript with LaMDA here: https://cajundiscordian.medium.com/is-lamda-sentient-an-interview-ea64d916d917

Dane Baker is the founder of EcoCart, an inspiring way for businesses and ecommerce customers to offset their carbon footprint. Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com Dane is a serial entrepreneur who’s always seen the world a little bit differently. He wanted to find a win/win/win for businesses to offset their carbon footprint, right at the checkout stage. What does this mean? It means that if you install his Chrome extension, you can automatically offset the carbon of your own purchase by adding a small amount to the purchase price. It’s a really innovative way to help solve the problem of ecommerce waste. Dane is a very smart dude, and his passion for making the world a better place is palpable.

Saasha Celestial-One is the COO and co-founder of Olio, an eco-conscious start-up that’s raised over 50 million dollars in funding. Her concept is simple: we throw away so much good food. In fact, up to 40% globally. Her app makes it easy to give away leftover food, both for individuals and companies like supermarkets. Going on a trip? Just take a picture of the food in your fridge, upload it, and it won't go to waste. Saasha has received numerous awards including a UN Momentum for Change Award. More than that, she has a really unique path to success that I just know you’ll find deeply inspiring. Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com

Nely Galán is one of those guests that makes me feel like the scene in Wayne’s World… I’m not worthy!   Her story is everything this show represents. She came to this country as an immigrant from Cuba when she was just five years old, and through her own grit and determination worked her way up to become the president of entertainment of Telemundo, one of the most well-known brands in all of television.  Nely Galán has produced hundreds of hours of television, and appeared on most major networks and shows like The Apprentice. Always an entrepreneur at heart, she has done very well in real estate and built multiple successful businesses. She’s now a best-selling author, a media mogul, and the creator of a non-profit called the Adelante Movement. In short, I’m in awe.  Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com

Johnny Crowder is an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in some tattoos. Ok, not that exactly, but he is a perfect example of the kind of story I’m looking for on this podcast. He’s a touring death metal singer, a public speaker and TEDx presenter, and the founder of Cope Notes, a tech start-up that provides a positive-psychology text message a day to people who are struggling with mental health. His business has helped tens of thousands of people and has been featured on CNN, Forbes, and more. We talk about the problem with labels when it comes to people and how you can find your own unique path in this world, improving your own life and the lives of others in the process.  Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com

Dustin Feider is one of those rare individuals who makes work that will blow you away. He’s a professional artist who took a highly unusual, earth-forward twist. He put years of design experience into the work of creating out-of-this-world, custom tree-houses. These aren’t your average tree-houses. They look like a cross between Apple’s vision of the future and Avatar—these things are freaking incredible. Not only that, he’s actually joining me on the call today from one of his incredible creations. Discover how he made a career out of his remarkable passion. Watch this episode on YouTube All episodes: beattheoftenpath.com